Warrior Baseball Outlook

2010

Veteran Lewis-Clark State College coach Ed Cheff and his staff spend the early portions of the season putting the pieces of the puzzle together to find the best lineup for the Warriors.

Pitchers are limited either by a pitch count or number of innings. Position players will often rotate or move around to different positions. This is a live audition that allows the coaching staff to see who can do what in a certain situation.

The results of this philosophy are nothing short of phenomenal. The Warrior program under Cheff has won 16 NAIA World Series titles in the last 26 years. During that streak, no other NAIA team has won the title more than once.

Using that philosophy for this season, however, could present more of a challenge for the Warrior coaching staff because a number of the puzzle pieces appear to be interchangeable.

“We might be as versatile as any team we have had,” says Cheff, who has compiled a 1,657-425 mark entering his 34th season at LCSC. “We have a number of players who can play multiple positions.”

That kind of depth, plus experience at a number of positions, should help LCSC make another run for the national title. The Warriors have eight position players who saw action in at least 20 games a year ago, while six pitchers had at least nine appearances.

“Team chemistry and maturity are two of the most obvious team characteristics right now,” Cheff says. “We have a pretty competitive team. When we’ve competed for national titles, we’ve always had to have those two elements and this year those elements are maybe as good as some of the better teams we’ve had. I’m really enthusiastic about that.”

A key to the season will be staying healthy. Last year, the Warriors, especially the pitching staff, were hit hard by injuries. By the end of the season, depth in almost all areas became an issue as the team posted a 40-15 mark. That marked the 30th straight season the Warriors have won at least 40 games.

Although it’s subject to change, the Warriors will play 53 regular-season games and again open by playing host to the Regence BlueShield of Idaho Tournament on Feb. 12-14 at LCSC’s Harris Field. LCSC will begin play on Feb. 12 against Corban College at 12:30 p.m. The two teams will be joined by Concordia and College of Idaho in the round-robin affair.

The Warriors will play a two-game series at Seattle University on May 7-8, which is in its second year of transitioning from NCAA Division II to D-I.

LCSC then ends the regular season on May 18 with a game against Gonzaga in Spokane.

Here’s a preview broken down by position for the 2010 Warriors.

CATCHER:

If any position epitomizes the depth on this squad, it’s at catcher. The Warriors return both Kawika Emsley-Pai and Travis Georgius from a year ago, and have added Brian Burke, who was selected as a First Team NAIA All American last season at Kansas Wesleyan.  The Warriors also have Braxton Miller, who has been cleared to play after a successful bout with cancer, and highly touted sophomore Will Thorp.

Because of the depth at the position, Burke has been moved to the infield, but could see duty behind the plate if needed. Emsley-Pai also played in the outfield last year while Georgius could wind up seeing time in the infield, especially at third base.

“Kawika has the inside track right now, but he can also play right field like he did last year,” Cheff says.

Both Emsley-Pai, a junior, and Georgius, a senior from Coeur d’Alene, are looking to bounce back at the plate this season, while Miller is looking to regain the form that made him a first-team All-Coast Conference selection at Ohlone Junior College.

“In Willie (Thorp), we have as good of a young kid behind the plate as we’ve had in a long time,” Cheff says.

Freshman Laslo Horvath, who is from Windsor, Ontario, rounds out the catching unit.

INFIELD:

The Warriors have a bevy of experienced players who can play two positions and some are solid at three, which should make the early season evaluations rather interesting.

Pat Murray leads the group at first base but isn’t quite 100 percent as the season opens after missing almost all of last season with an ACL tear. Murray started five games before the injury and hit two home runs with nine RBI in that short span.

“He’s a premium, middle of the order hitter,” Cheff says.

At third base is Burke, who hit .435 with 12 home runs last season at Kansas Wesleyan.

“Burke might be the best all-around hitter on the team and he’s a legitimate three-position guy,” Cheff says. “He can play third, first and catcher, and he can really hit.”

Cheff says when Burke or Murray are not playing a position, they will likely be in the lineup as the team’s designated hitter.

The middle of the infield returns starters Josh Ashenbrenner and Todd Muecklish, but there are a number of challengers.

“It’s really a dogfight for the middle infield positions in terms of figuring out two guys,” Cheff says.

Ashenbrenner won both the team’s Gold Glove and Clutch awards last season. He led all regulars with a .435 average. Ashenbrenner likely will start out at second base, although he has played both shortstop and third during his first two seasons in the program.

Muecklisch, who was hampered by injuries that forced him to miss almost two-thirds of last season, was sharp when he was on the field at shortstop. He hit .438 and earned the Gold Glove Award at the Avista NAIA World Series.

“Todd might be the best athlete in the middle,” Cheff says. “And Josh was our leading hitter last year and our most consistent figure in the lineup.”

Also in the mix will be newcomer Kevin Lovelace, a JC transfer who can play second, short, and third, along with returners Danny Anguiano, a senior, and Trent Bridges, a sophomore from Coeur d’Alene.

Lovelace earned all-Region 1 honors at Central Arizona College and helped his team to a third-place finish at the JC World Series last year.

Cheff says he expects Anguiano to bounce back at the plate after hitting .228 last season. Cheff also has praise for Bridges, who saw a lot of action last season as a backup and as a courtesy runner.

Also in the mix will be senior Vaughan Prow, JC transfer Brian Gaylord and freshman Chance Kopacz. Prow hit .408 in 21 games last season and Cheff says the switch-hitter brings some experience and maturity to the team.

Gaylord can play either first or third and has impressed the coaching staff. Cheff says Gaylord is a lot stronger than when he first arrived on campus and likes his approach to the game.

Kopacz is the nephew of former Warrior and Seattle Mariner Bucky Jacobson. Cheff says Kopacz is a good hitter who can play both infield and outfield so the key will be to find where he fits best and develops defensively.

Michael Bush, a freshman, will likely redshirt this season, Cheff says.

OUTFIELD:

Like the other positions, the Warriors feel good about their depth in the outfield.

“It’s been awhile since I thought we really had depth in the outfield where we could play defense and hit both,” Cheff says. “There is a lot of competition in the outfield. It’s been quite a while since we have had this much talent in the outfield.”

Jason Hague, a junior transfer from Merced College, is the top candidate for center field and could give the Warriors a true leadoff hitter. Last season he hit .408 and stole 43-of-46 bases.

“Jason gives us a true center fielder,” Cheff says. “He can really run and throw and is a very good defensive center fielder.  He really gives us a No. 1 or No. 9 hole hitter.”

Jake Eccles, who hit .377 with 14 doubles, 18 home runs and 65 RBI last season at Santa Anna JC, tops the list in left field.

“He put up huge numbers last year and can play defense,” Cheff said. “The past few seasons we’ve had left-fielders who could hit but were not defensive players. Eccles gives us both.”

Gino Casini, who played last season at Santa Rosa JC, is the likely right fielder. He hit .301 last season with 12 doubles and seven home runs.

“Gino is a guy with power and is a great defensive player,” Cheff said. “And after those three guys, there are of ton of guys who can play for us.”

Bryson Tajiri, a fifth-year senior, is the only returner who saw much action outside of Emsley-Pai in the outfield last season. Cheff said if Tajiri, who has been bothered by injuries during his career, can stay healthy, he could play a big role on the team.

Bryan Abrey, who saw limited time a year ago with LC, is expected to play a bigger role.

“Both Abrey and Tajiri are a lot better this season,” Cheff says.

Also returning is Adam Carson of Lewiston, who Cheff calls “a great competitive kid.”

Among the other newcomers are Connor Moore, who Cheff says can play all three outfield positions and Andy Matthews from Idaho Falls, who could eventually fit into the picture as well.

Cheff said that Nic Pizzuto did not return to LCSC for the spring semester because of a family illness, but could rejoin the team next season. Cheff also said that freshman Zach Fabricius from Fruitland will likely redshirt.

PITCHING:

“I think our depth could be a key to this staff because all of them have great mound presence and work ethic,” LCSC pitching coach Gus Knickrehm says. “This is the best all-around pitching staff in terms of work ethic on and off the field we’ve had in some time. They are a very tight group who set their goals early and very high.”

Depth became an issue a year ago when the staff was plagued by injuries. If the staff can avoid injuries this season, it should have a nice blend of returnees and newcomers.

Senior Colby Hawk and sophomore Zach Clanton return and tied for the most wins on the staff last season with six. Hawk, who is from Boise, posted a 2.04 ERA and won the team’s Most Outstanding Player award.

“He’s just a real competitive pitcher out there,” Knickrehm says. “He believes that no one can beat him. He has great belief in himself.”

Clanton went 6-1 as a reliever with two saves. The Coeur d’Alene product will likely come out of the bullpen again this season and could be the team’s closer.

Among the other starters back are junior Tyler Knigge of Lewiston, and seniors Brian Erickson, Henry Buenrostro, and Stephen Foster, the only left-hander of the four. Knickrehm says all have shown improvement during the fall, especially Foster with his fastball and curveball.

LCSC also returns Kyle Cruikshank, who had Tommy John surgery in 2008 and only saw action as a pinch-hitter last season. Brett Stenger missed last season after pitching in only one game in 2008.

Brian Biagi redshirted last season and is a junior eligibility wise this year.

Jeff Lease, a hard-throwing transfer from Long Beach State, heads the list of left-handed transfers, and is joined by Jorge Sanchez, who Knickrehm says has one of the best left-handed breaking balls to come through the program in some time. Tyler Barrett, who is from Boise, and Zac Hull, a freshman from Moscow, also could be factors.

The right-handed transfers include Tyrell Poggemeyer, who pitched for former Warrior assistant coach Kevin Matthews at Skagit Valley CC, and Cody Fassold. Tyler Lichty, who is from Sandpoint, and Tim Stuvland, a senior from Potlatch, also will be in the mix as will University of Washington transfer Seth Haehl. Transfer Charles Chiang is originally from Taiwan.

John Rohde, who played at Lewiston High, was originally signed as an outfielder for this season but has been converted to a pitcher.

David Luna, a transfer from Ohlone JC, joined the team for the spring semester and also could be a contributor.

2009 outlook

2008 outlook

2007 outlook